Workers urged to check their rights

Students looking for graduate jobs in 2008 have been urged by the government to check their holiday, pay and flexible working rights.

There have been new entitlements regarding the right to work flexibly, among other things.

Employment relations minister Pat McFadden said: "We want to make sure that workers know what rights they have when applying for a new job, so they can check their existing conditions are up to scratch. In the past few months the minimum wage has risen and full-time workers have been given rights to an extra four days' paid leave a year."

He added that people deserve decent working standards of the right to paid holidays, minimum wage and "the right to work in a safe environment".

New rights for students looking for graduate jobs in modelling or acting are also set to be introduced in April.

Mr McFadden also introduced a new system to give tougher penalties for employers who do not pay their staff minimum wage last month.